Okay, I'll bite.
The Mephisto line is getting great reviews across the board on AFN for genetics, vigor and so forth.
Lots of people are applying lst, scrog, et al to their grows, so I don't think you're risking anything by trying some things--hey that's how we learn about growing.
18 beans done the same way is kind of boring unless you're dialed in, why don't you try and lst some of them, and maybe even top/fim a couple and just see what they do?
If you fail, it won't be from lst or topping, in my onion.